Apparatus for carrying out continuous physical and chemical processes in fluidized bed of loose material

ABSTRACT

A working chamber with a ring-shaped configuration in plan view, the bottom of said working chamber comprising a gas distributing grid. The working chamber is divided subsequently into sections by partitions adjoining the bottom and the walls of the working chamber, said partitions being attached to a vertical driving shaft extending along the central axis of the working chamber. The partitions ensure the movement of the loose material along the working chamber from a feeding union to a discharging one.

[451 May 27, 1975 United States Patent [191 Osenkina et a1.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT CONTINUOUS PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES IN FLUIDIZED BED OF LOOSE MATERIAL [76] Inventors: Valentina Anatolievna Osenkina,

ulitsa Km-chatova, 5b, kv. Primary Examiner-James H. Tayman, Jr.

Viktor Borisovich Khorolsky, ulitsa Kurchatova, 9, kv. 39; Jury [57] ABSTRACT A working chamber with a ring-shaped configuration Sergeevich Ippolitov, ulitsa Lapina, all Oflfklltsk, in plan view, the bottom of said working chamber comprising a gas distributing grid. The working cham- Aug. 23, 1973 [22] Filed:

ber is divided subsequently into sections by partitions [21] Appl. No.: 390,947

adjoining the bottom and the walls of the working chamber, said partitions being attached to a vertical [30] Foreign Application Priority Data driving shaft extending along the central axis of the Dec. 20, 1972 working chamber. The partitions ensure the move- 1719485 ment of the loose material along the working chamber from a feeding union to a discharging one.

[52] U.S. Cl. 23/284; 34/57 A; 432/58; 432/15; 165/104; 165/92; 23/288 E; 23/288 D [51] Int. B01j 9/18 [58] Field of Search.............. 13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT CONTINUOUS PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES IN FLUIDIZED BED OF LOOSE MATERIAL This invention relates to the equipment for carrying out physical and chemical processes and particularly to an apparatus for carrying out continuous physical and chemical processes in fluidized bed of loose material.

Known in the art is an apparatus for carrying out continuous physical and chemical processes in fluidized bed of loose material comprising a working chamber with the bottom made in the form of a gas distributing grid and means for feeding gas beneath the gas distributing grid and for discharging gas from the working chamber, as well as a union for feeding loose material,

. said union being disposed at one end of the working chamber, and a union for discharging said loose material at the other end of the working chamber.

Partitions are provided in the working chamber, said partitions adjoining walls and the bottom of the working chamber and dividing it subsequently into separate sections. The partitions are fixed to an endless chain roller conveyor which is driven by sprockets also disposed in the working chamber. The roller conveyor is adapted to move the partitions along the working chamber, the path of movement of the partitions lying in a vertical plane so that during the movement of the conveyor each partition traverses the entire space of the working chamber from the union for feeding the loose material in and to the union for discharging the material out of the chamber along the lower run of the conveyor with the leading edge of the partition adjoining the bottom of the working chamber, during its further movement each partition being turned over the sprocket and moved along the upper run of the conveyor in the opposite direction, i.e., toward the union for discharging the loose material.

During the operation of the conventional device the loose material which is fed through the feeding union disposed in the upper portion of the working chamber tightly fills the space defined between two adjacent partitions and vertical walls of the apparatus.

The loose material is shifted by the movable partitions and reaches the gas distributing grid comprising the bottom of the working chamber of the apparatus and under the action of the gas fed beneath the gas distributing grid it is transferred into fluidized state. In the conventional apparatus it is desirable to maintain the minimum gap between the movable partitions, gas distributing grid and walls of the working chamber in order to prevent over flowing of the loose material from one closed zone of fluidization defined by the partitions, bottom and walls of the working chamber to another one. Moving translatory along with the movable partitions toward the discharging union, the loose material while being in fluidized state contacts for required time with the gas and then when reaching the zone of the working chamber where there is no gas distributing grid it is separated from the gas and is discharged out of the apparatus.

The gas raises to the upper portion of the working chamber wherefrom it is also discharged out of the apparatus.

However, in view of the fact that the path of movement of the partitions shifting the loose material lies in a vertical plane, the degree of fullness of the working chamber by the loose material is very low. Since in this apparatus the transporting partitions pass through different media (either through gas medium, or through fluidized loose material and loose material in its normal non-fluidized state) having different resistance, the force acting on the partitions is variable while the force acting on means driving said partitions is asymmetrical which is detrimental to the life-time of the partitions and the conveyor.

The uniformity of fluidization of loose material along the whole width of the working chamber is adversely affected by the fact that the central portion of the working chamber of the conventional device is crossed by the conveyor with the result that the gas entering the working chamber through the gas distributing grid more easily flows upward along the walls of the apparatus than through the central portion thereof.

When treating lumpy material with particles of irregular form in such an apparatus it is not improvable that particles of the material are jammed between the movable partitions and the walls and the bottom of the working chamber of the apparatus which action may damage some parts of the apparatus.

Another disadvantage of the conventional apparatus consists in the difficulty of introduction in a treated fluidized bed of heat exchanging means adapted to maintain and to finely adjust the temperature of the material in said fluidized bed when carrying out exothermal or endothermal reactions.

Another disadvantage of the conventional apparatus consists in that it is required to arrange in the working chamber of the apparatus, that is in the zone where reactions take place, complex mechanism used for driving the partitions which is undesirable, particularly when treating aggressive media.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out continuous physical and chemical processes in fluidized bed of loose material which being simple in structure, makes it possible to easily maintain the predetermined temperature of the loose material during exothermal and endothermal reactions and to treat the material of different gradation including that with particles of irregular shape.

This object is achieved by the fact that, in an apparatus for carrying out continuous physical and chemical processes in fluidized bed of loose material comprising a working chamber having the bottom in the form of a gas distributing grid and subsequently divided into separate sections by partitions adjoining walls and the bottom of the working chamber and being movable along the working chamber ensuring the movement of the loose material substantially in the horizontal direction, said apparatus being also provided with means for feeding gas beneath the gas distributing grid and for discharging it from the apparatus and with inlet and outlet unions adapted to feed and to discharge the loose material in and out of the working chamber respectively, according to the invention, the working chamber has a ring-shaped configuration in a horizontal section, while the partitions are fixed to a common driving shaft extending vertically along the central axis of the working chamber.

It is expedient to make the working chamber with upwardly diverging trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration.

The partitions may be hollow and may be provided in their interior cavities with means for feeding in and discharging out thereof a heat-carrying medium.

The means for feeding and discharging the heatcarrying agent in and out of the interior cavities of the partitions may comprise hollow brackets used to conmeet the partitions to the driving shaft which in turn is made hollow and used as a manifold for feeding and discharging the heat-carrying medium.

It is advantageous to provide the interior cavities of the partitions with guide ribs ensuring a zigzag path for the heat-carrying medium.

It is also advisable to locate the union for feeding the loose material into the apparatus at a distance from the putlet union which is greater than that between two adacent partitions which is necessary to prevent the initial loose material from feeding directly to the outlet union from the inlet one bypassing the whole length of the working chamber.

To ensure the treatment of the apparatus of a lump material with particles of irregular form, the edges of the partitions facing the walls and the bottom of the working chamber may be provided with elastic scraptars.

To intensify the heat-exchanging process the walls of the working chamber may be provided with jackets for passing the heat-carrying medium.

The apparatus of the present invention for carrying out continuous physical and chemical processes in fluidized bed of loose material characterized by that a simple structure and providing high efficiency ofa process makes it possible to treat not only pulverized and powder materials but also lumpy loose materials with particles of irregular form, said apparatus may be used not only for carrying out massand heat-exchanging processes between gas and loose material but also for exothermal and endothermal reactions therebetween as well as for catalytic chemical reactions.

The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to an embodiment thereof which is represented in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for carrying out physical and chemical processes in fluidtzed bed of loose material, the apparatus being made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II in FIG. I.

An apparatus for carrying out continuous physical and chemical processes in fluidized bed of loose material comprises a working chamber 1 (FIG. 1 and 2) havtng a ring-shaped form in a plan view and an upwardly diverging trapezoidal configuration in a transverse cross-sectional view as is shown in FIG. 1. A cylindrical gas collecting chamber 2 is disposed above the working chamber and adjoins thereto.

The bottom of the working chamber 1 comprises a gas distributing grid 3 with gas feeding means disposed beneath the grid, said means comprising a manifold 4 circumferentially divided into separate sealed sections, each of said chambers being provided with an individual gas-feeding connection 5.

The gas collecting chamber is closed at the top by a cover 6 provided with means for discharging the gas out of the apparatus, said means comprising connections 7 with baffles 8 located in front of them and adapted to prevent discharging of fine particles of the loose material being treated.

There is a union 9 provided in the wall of the working chamber and adapted to feed loose material therein. The discharging of the loose material is performed through a union 10 connected to an outlet opening 11 (FIG. 1 and 2) in the gas distributing grid 3.

The working chamber 1 is divided subsequently into separate sections 12 (FIG. 2) by means of partitions 13, the edges of the partitions facing the bottom and the walls of the working chamber 1 being provided with elastic scrapers 14 and 15 (FIG. 1) engaging the bottom and the walls of the working chamber 1. The partitions may be made without the scrapers and to engage with the bottom and the walls of the working chamber directly by its edges (which is not shown in the drawings). The partitions are fixed to a common driving shaft 16 extending vertically along the central axis of the working chamber 1. The driving shaft 16 is rotated by means of a motor 17. The partitions 13 are attached to the driving shaft by brackets 18 and 19. In case it is necessary to supply heat to the working chamber 1 or remove it therefrom, the partitions 13 are made hollow and provided with means adapted to feed a heatcarrying medium to the interior cavities of the partitions and to discharge it therefrom. To ensure the above-described feeding and discharging of the heatcarrying medium in and out of the partition cavities, it is advantageous to make the driving shaft 16 as well as the brackets 18 and 19 hollow and to use the driving shaft 16 as a manifold for feeding and discharging the heat-carrying medium in and out of the partitions 13. To intensify the heat-exchanging process, guide ribs 20 may be provided in the interior cavities of the partitions 13, said ribs ensuring zigzag path for the flow of the heat-carrying medium. The walls of the working chamber 1 may be provided with jackets 21 for passing the heat-carrying medium in order to increase the heat exchanging surface.

The number of sections 12 in the apparatus (FIG. 2) may vary. It is advantageous to locate the union 9 used for feeding the loose material at a distance from the discharging union 10 extending along the working chamber and being greater than the distance between two adjacent partitions 13 which is necessary to prevent the initial loose material from feeding directly into the discharging union l0 bypassing the working chamber.

The apparatus for carrying out continuous physical and chemical proccesses in fluidized bed of loose material operates in the following manner.

Loose material is continuously fed to the feeding union 9 for feeding into the apparatus. At the same time gas is fed beneath the gas distributing grid through the manifold 4 (FIG. 1), the gas being fed in the amount which is necessary to fluidize a layer of the loose material. Intensive mixing of particles of the fluidized loose material is carried out in each section 12 (FIG. 2) independently of the material contained in other sections 12.

Heat-exchanging and mass-exchanging processes as well as chemical reactions between gas and loose material proceed very intensively due to effective mixing of the material inside the sections 12.

Upon rotation of the driving shaft 16 (FIG. 1), the partitions 13 are moved along the working chamber 1 ensuring the movement of the loose material from the inlet union 9 to the outlet union 10, the loose material being fed to said union 10 under gravity through the opening 11 provided in the gas distributing grid 3. The residence time for all the particles of the loose material contained between any pair of adjacent partitions 13 in the separate sections 12 is equal. This feature ensures even exposure of all the loose material in the apparatus to the gas. The exposure time during which the gas acts upon the loose material may be adjusted by varying the rotational speed of the partitions 13. Passing through the layer of the loose material disposed on the gas distributing grid 3, the gas flows round the baffles 8 and goes out of the apparatus through the connections 7. When carrying out exothermal and endothermal reactions, a suitable heat-carrying medium may be supplied into the cavities of the partitions 13 and into the jackets 21.

In-case when the apparatus is used for treating lump materials, particularly with particles of irregular form, the partitions 13 are arranged in the working chamber 1 with a gap which is slightly in excess of the maximum size of particles, said gaps being overlapped by elastic scrapers 14 and 15 attached to the partitions. This prevents jamming of particles of the material between the partitions l3 and the walls and the bottom of the working chamber 1.

Thus, the apparatus made in accordance with the present invention makes it possible to intensify the process, to increase the efficiency of the apparatus, to improve the quality of the resulted product and to improve working conditions for individual parts of the apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for carrying out continuous physical and chemical processes in fluidized bed of loose material comprising: a working chamber having in a plan view a ring-shaped configuration; a bottom of said working chamber used as a gas distributing grid; partitions in said working chamber adjoining walls and said bottom of the working chamber and dividing it subsequently into separate sections; said partitions being hollow and including means for feeding a heat-carrying medium into their inner cavities and for discharging it therefrom; a common driving shaft extending vertically along the central axis of the working chamber, said shaft rigidly mounting said partitions so that they are adapted to be moved along said working chamber ensuring the movement of the loose material; means for feeding gas beneath said gas distributing grid and for discharging it from the apparatus; and unions for feeding the loose material into the working chamber and for discharging it therefrom.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said working chamber has an upwardly diverging trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the partitions are made hollow and provided with means for feeding a heat-carrying medium into their inner cavities and for discharging it therefrom.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for feeding the heat-carrying medium to the inner cavities of said partitions and for discharging it therefrom comprise: said driving shaft which is made hollow; the brackets used to connect said partitions to said driving shaft and provided with inner cavities communicated with said inner cavities of said partitions and with said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft being used as a manifold for feeding the heat-carrying medium to said partitions and for discharging it therefrom.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for feeding the heat-carrying medium to the inner cavities of said partitions and for discharging it therefrom comprise: said driving shaft which is made hollow; the brackets used to connect said partitions to said driving shaft and provided with inner cavities communicated with said inner cavities of said partitions and with said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft being used as a manifold for feeding the heat-carrying medium to said partitions and for discharging it therefrom.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein guide ribs are provided in the inner cavities of the partitions, said ribs ensuring zigzag path for the flow of the heatcarrying medium.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein guide ribs are provided in the inner cavities of the partitions, said ribs ensuring zigzag path for the flow of the heatcarrying medium.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said union for feeding the loose material is disposed at a distance from the discharging union along the working chamber, said distance being greater than that between two adjacent partitions.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said union for feeding the loose material is disposed at a distance from the discharging union along the working chamber, said distance being greater than that between two adjacent partitions.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partitions are provided with edges a facing said walls and the bottom of the working chamber and with elastic scrapers attached to said edges.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the partitions are provided with edges facing said walls and the bottom of the working chamber and with elastic scrapers attached to said edges.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said walls of the working chamber are provided with jackets for passing the heat-carrying medium.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said walls of the working chamber are provided with jackets for passing the heat-carrying medium. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT CONTINUOUS PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES IN FLUIDIZED BED OF LOOSE MATERIAL COMPRISING: A WORKING CHAMBER HAVING A PLAN VIEW A RING-SHAPED CONFIGURATION; A BOTTOM OF SAID WORKING CHAMBER USED AS A GAS DISTRIBUTING GRID; PARTITIONS IN SAID WORKING CHAMBER ADJOINING WALLS AND SAID BOTTOM OF THE WORKING CHAMBER DIVIDING IT SUBSEQUENTLY INTO SEPARATE SECTIONS; AND PARTITIONS BEING HOLLOW AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR FEEDING A HEAT-CARRYING MEDIUM INTO THEIR INNER CAVITIES AND FOR DISCHARGING IT THEREFROM; A COMMON DRIVING SHAFT EXTENDING VERTICALLY ALONG THE CENTRAL AXIS OF THE WORKING CHAMBER, SAID SHAFT RIGIDLY MOUNTING SAID PARTITIONS SO THAT THER ARE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED ALONG SAID WORKING CHAMBER ENSURING THE MOVEMENT OF THE LOOSE MATERIAL; MEANS FOR FEEDING GAS BENEATH SAID GAS DISTRIBUTING GRID AND FOR DISCHARGING IT FROM THE APPARATUS; AND UNIONS FOR FEEDING THE LOOSE MATERIAL INTO THE WORKING CHAMBER AND FOR DISCHARGING IT THEREFROM.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said working chamber has an upwardly diverging trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the partitions are made hollow and provided with means for feeding a heat-carrying medium into their inner cavities and for discharging it therefrom.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for feeding the heat-carrying medium to the inner cavities of said partitions and for discharging it therefrom comprise: said driving shaft which is made hollow; the brackets used to connect said partitions to said driving shaft and provided with inner cavities communicated with said inner cavities of said partitions and with said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft being used as a manifold for feeding the heat-carrying medium to said partitions and for discharging it therefrom.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for feeding the heat-carrying medium to the inner cavities of said partitions and for discharging it therefrom comprise: said driving shaft which is made hollow; the brackets used to connect said partitions to said driving shaft and provided with inner cavities communicated with said inner cavities of said partitions and with said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft being used as a manifold for feeding the heat-carrying medium to said partitions and for discharging it therefrom.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein guide ribs are provided in the inner cavities of the partitions, said ribs ensuring zigzag path for the flow of the heat-carrying medium.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein guide ribs are provided in the inner cavities of the partitions, said ribs ensuring zigzag path for the flow of the heat-carrying medium.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said union for feeding the loose material is disposed at a distance from the discharging union along the working chamber, said distance being greater than that between two adjacent partitions.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said union for feeding the loose material is disposed at a distance from the discharging union along the working chamber, said distance being greater than that between two adjacent partitions.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partitions are provided with edges a facing said walls and the bottom of the working chamber and with elastic scrapers attached to said edges.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the partitions are provided with edges facing said walls and the bottom of the working chamber and with elastic scrapers attached to said edges.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said walls of the working chamber are provided with jackets for passing the heat-carrying medium.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said walls of the working Chamber are provided with jackets for passing the heat-carrying medium. 